Road to Avonlea: Family Rivalry

By Gail Hamilton

THE RETURN OF ROGER KING - WORLD FAMOUS geologist – turns the King farm topsy-turvy with excitement. But a boyhood feud between Roger and brother Alec wreaks havoc on the homecoming, and sparks begin to fly – not just between cousins Felix and Andrew as well.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Davenport Press
• Release date: May 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9780986786167

Book preview

ROAD TO AVONLEA

Family Rivalry

By: Gail Hamilton

Based on Sullivan Films Production written by Heather Conkie adapted from the novels of Lucy Maud Montgomery

SMASHWORDS EDITION

*****

PUBLISHED BY: Davenport Press

Copyright © Sullivan Entertainment Inc.

Image Copyright © 2012 Sullivan Entertainment Inc.

Road to Avonlea is a trademark of Sullivan Entertainment Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except for reviewers who may quote brief passages.

*****

Chapter One

A high-wheeled buggy rattled merrily towards the King farm, carrying Alec, Janet and Felix King. All of them basked in the sun-drenched day. With gulls wheeling overhead and a tangy breeze blowing in off the sea, the weather seemed made-to-order for bolstering good humor; it had been a fine day for paying a social call.

Hard to believe, Alec mused, steering the horse skillfully around a pothole, how Malcolm and Abigail’s little boy has grown.

Abigail, Janet King’s sister, had waited long to marry and even longer for motherhood.

Motherhood had come to Abigail in the form of an adorable orphan literally left on her doorstep. The child was a thriving toddler now, filling Abigail and her husband with so much delight that the whole community had to smile every time the pair walked their pride-and-joy down the street.

Alec’s mind was on children as, beside him, Janet was growing large with the promise of yet another King youngster. The baby was awaited with mounting anticipation by everyone—and with more than a little anxiety by Felix.

I don’t want another sister, Mother, Felix insisted from the back seat. He already had two sisters—one older, who bossed him around, and one younger, who was far more interested in her best friend, Clemmie Ray, than in him. The closest thing he had to a brother, at the moment, was his cousin Andrew, who was staying at the farm while his father finished important work in South America.

Well, Dr. Blair said there’s a possibility of twins, Janet murmured complacently.

Felix was filled with galloping alarm! One new sister would be bad enough—but two! Surely that was more girls than any fellow could be asked to put up with in one lifetime!

One brother would be enough for me, he informed his mother hurriedly, hoping to impress her with the modesty of his demands.

Well, having a brother isn’t always easy. Your father and Uncle Roger certainly had their share of disagreements, didn’t you, Alec?

Janet King smiled mischievously towards her husband, an easy-going, sunburnt farmer edging towards middle age.

Alec hesitated as he struggled with some uncomfortable memories. Well, we had our disappointments over the years, he admitted, but I wouldn’t say we didn’t get along.

He only succeeded in making his wife laugh. Janet had grown up in Avonlea, too, and had known Alec King for about as long as she could remember—certainly long before she had had any thoughts of marrying him. It was impossible for Alec to hide anything from her.

Oh Alec, you and Roger never saw eye to eye on anything.

Is Uncle Roger as famous as Aunt Hetty says he is? Felix wanted to know. She makes him sound smarter than a professor and more important than the Prime Minister! His Aunt Hetty, who was even older than his father, and who had never married anybody, was apt to get pretty windy about anything she considered important. Years of teaching school did that to a person, Felix supposed. He himself had had to listen to enough of Aunt Hetty’s high-flown speeches at the Avonlea school.

Janet paused, choosing her words carefully. Hetty was the eldest of the Kings and considered herself the head of the clan—an idea that had already caused enough head-butting in the family to last Janet a lifetime. Janet didn’t want to stir up the waters now any more than necessary.

Well...um...your Aunt Hetty always did favor your Uncle Roger, Felix.

This was one of those statements loaded with a whole world of meaning, most of it too complicated for Felix to figure out at the moment.

I must say, he’s done well for himself, considering, Alec added quickly, as though in a hurry to give Roger his full due.

Oh, well! Janet clasped her hands in admiration of her brother-in-law. He’s one of the most sought-after geologists in the country.

Felix had certainly heard enough about the geology part from his cousin Andrew, who was Roger’s son. The minute Andrew had heard his father was on his way back from Brazil, he had started spending most of his time digging in the fields and poking along the riverbank so he could make a rock collection of his own.

I can’t wait to meet him again. Felix’s own memories of his uncle were very dim, but it was exciting to have a real celebrity in the family.

As the buggy rolled up to the rambling King farmhouse, Janet grinned at her husband.

Remember, she chuckled, when Roger pushed you out of the barn door into the manure pile? You went face first out on the—

Janet! Alec exclaimed mildly. He didn’t want the old incident raked up again for the amusement of his son. Some boyhood things remain sensitive, even to a grown man. Alec pointed to a buggy tied to the yard fence—a quick and handy way to change the subject.

Now, looks like Dr. Blair has been here waiting a while. Whoa!

He reined in the horse and pulled to a halt. Felix hopped down and held out his hands to help his mother as she clambered to the ground. Alec remained in his seat.

And...uh.. .well, I’ve got some things to pick up at Lawson’s, Alec told his wife, and he clucked the horse into a trot again before any more tales of his childhood could surface to plague him.

As Alec drove off, Janet took a firm grip of her son’s hand and started towards the house, where the doctor waited to give her a checkup.

Please finish the story, Mother, Felix demanded, trotting to keep up. He didn’t intend to be done out of a story in which his father had ended up in a manure heap!

Well, began his mother happily, it all started when Roger and your father were raising pigs for the Charlottetown fair. They couldn’t decide which one of them should parade the pigs in front of the judge, so...

Alec was gratefully out of earshot as Janet told the embarrassing story. He drove past the barn, his lips pressed rather tightly together, and gave the horse a slap with the reins. In no time at all, he was rumbling over the covered bridge and into the nearby village of Avonlea.

Alec tied his horse up in front

Reviews for Road to Avonlea

[Cassie Ripley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a riveting tale. I couldn’t put it down. I got so engrossed in the story that I actually felt like I was apart of the story. I also love the TV series and movies as well.